By a 62 - 31 percent margin, Connecticut voters oppose a plan to spend $107 million to
build a new football stadium for the University of Connecticut, according to a Quinnipiac
College Poll released today. Seven percent are undecided.

But 63 percent of voters say state spending on educational programs at state universities
should be increased, while 2 percent want to cut spending and 32 percent say keep it at the
same level, the poll by the independent Quinnipiac College finds.

Thirty-nine percent of voters say they are college football fans and 40 percent say they
are UConn football fans, with 24 percent saying they attended at least one UConn football
home game.

"University of Connecticut football supporters must stage a come-from-behind rally if
they want to score with the new stadium proposal. Although voters like the idea of UConn
playing big time college football, they don't want to pay for it," said Quinnipiac College Poll
Director Douglas Schwartz.

"By a 2 - 1 margin, Connecticut voters don't want to spend money on a football
stadium, but they reverse that 2 - 1 margin in support of spending more tax dollars for
educational programs at state universities."

By a 52 - 30 percent margin, voters support the idea of upgrading the UConn football
program to division 1A, the highest level of NCAA competition. If UConn football is
upgraded, 33 percent say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that they would go to a
home game.

They agree 59 - 36 percent that upgrading UConn football would improve the school's
national reputation. But only 10 percent say the upgrade would make them more likely to want
their children to attend UConn, while 6 percent say it would make them less likely and 84
percent say it would make no difference.

By a 71 - 25 percent margin, Connecticut voters say the new stadium would cost too
much money. And 76 percent of voters say the money would be better spent on other
purposes.

The idea that upgrading UConn football would increase their pride in Connecticut is
rejected by voters 64 - 31 percent.

"The public agrees with the argument that big time football will increase national
attention paid to UConn, but it won't make them feel any better about their home state and
they don't think it will make the university any better academically," said Schwartz.

If UConn upgrades football to division 1A, 14 percent of voters think the quality of
education will get better, while 9 percent say it will get worse, and 74 percent say it will stay
the same.

From November 11 - 17, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,120 Connecticut residents
who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent. The
Quinnipiac College Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut as a public service and for research.

49. Would you say you are a college football fan or not?

Tot Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Yes 39% 50% 28% 42% 39% 38% 40%

No 60 49 71 57 61 62 58

DK/NA 1 1 - 1 - 1 2

50. Would you say you are a fan of the University of Connecticut's football
team or not?

Tot Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Yes 40% 42% 39% 41% 41% 40% 40%

No 58 57 60 58 59 59 58

DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 2

51. Have you ever been to a UCONN football home game?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Yes 24% 39% 27% 21% 27% 23% 23% 28%

No 76 61 73 79 73 77 77 72

DK/NA - - - - - - - 1

52. Some people have suggested upgrading the UCONN football program
to Division 1a, which is the highest level of NCAA football. How much have
you heard or read about this? A lot, some, only a little, or nothing at all?

53. In general, do you favor or oppose upgrading the UCONN football program
to division 1a? Would you say strongly or somewhat?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Favor strongly 25% 41% 28% 21% 35% 28% 21% 19%

Favor smwht 27 29 25 29 28 30 23 28

Oppose smwht 13 11 12 14 7 12 16 14

Oppose strongly 17 11 21 14 14 13 23 18

DK/NA 18 7 14 22 15 18 18 20

54. In order for UCONN to upgrade to division 1a football, there
is currently a proposal for the state to issue 107 million dollars
in bonds to pay for the construction of a new UCONN football stadium
in Storrs. Over 30 years, the cost to the state including interest
would be about 220 million dollars. Do you favor or oppose this plan
for the state to build a new UCONN football stadium in Storrs?
Would you say strongly or somewhat?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Favor strongly 15% 26% 18% 12% 21% 16% 13% 13%

Favor somewhat 16 20 19 14 22 18 16 12

Oppose somewhat 18 15 16 20 17 20 16 18

Oppose strongly 44 32 41 46 35 39 50 47

DK/NA 7 6 6 7 5 7 5 10

55. If your state legislators voted in favor of this plan, would you be more
likely to vote for them, less likely, or wouldn't it make a difference?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

More likely 10% 18% 10% 9% 9% 10% 8% 12%

Less likely 34 25 34 33 24 32 39 32

No diff 53 54 52 54 65 55 49 50

DK/NA 3 2 3 4 1 2 3 6

56. Do you have any children under the age of 18?

Tot

Yes 35%

No 64

REFUSED -

57. If the UCONN football program is upgraded to division 1a, would
that make you more likely to want your children/child to attend UCONN,
less likely, or wouldn't it make a difference?

Have
kids

More likely 10%

Less likely 6

No diff 84

DK/NA -

58. Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Is that
strongly or somewhat?
Upgrading to Division 1a football would improve UCONN's national reputation.

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Agree strongly 33% 48% 34% 32% 47% 37% 30% 24%

Agree smwhat 26 26 25 28 19 28 26 29

Disagree smwhat 17 11 18 16 17 19 17 14

Disagree strongly 19 13 19 19 13 15 21 25

DK/NA 5 2 4 6 4 2 6 8

59. Funding for a new football stadium for UCONN would cost the state
too much money.

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Agree strongly 53% 44% 50% 56% 47% 49% 57% 58%

Agree smwhat 18 19 16 20 15 20 16 21

Disagree smwhat 14 16 17 11 20 15 12 9

Disagree strongly 11 18 13 9 14 12 10 7

DK/NA 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 5

60. Upgrading UCONN's football program to Division 1a would increase the
pride that I have in being a state resident.

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Agree strongly 15% 27% 17% 14% 20% 15% 15% 16%

Agree smwhat 16 22 18 15 17 18 13 16

Disagree smwhat 21 19 22 20 15 20 22 28

Disagree strongly 43 27 38 48 43 43 46 36

DK/NA 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 5

61. State funding for a new UCONN football stadium would be better spent on
other purposes in the state.

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Agree strongly 60% 49% 55% 64% 53% 59% 66% 55%

Agree smwhat 16 19 18 15 20 17 12 20

Disagree smwhat 11 15 13 9 16 13 9 7

Disagree strongly 8 13 10 7 11 7 8 11

DK/NA 5 4 4 5 1 5 5 7

62. If the UCONN football program is upgraded to Division 1a, do you think
that the quality of the education at UCONN would get better, get worse, or
stay about the same?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Better 14% 20% 16% 13% 17% 14% 12% 16%

Worse 9 7 9 10 6 8 12 9

Same 74 72 74 75 77 76 74 70

DK/NA 2 1 2 3 - 2 2 5

63. If the UCONN football program is upgraded to Division 1a and a new UCONN
football stadium is built in Storrs, how likely is it that you would go to a
UCONN home football game? Very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or
not likely at all?

UCONN
Football
Tot Fan Men Wom 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +

Very likely 13% 27% 16% 10% 19% 16% 11% 9%

Smwhat likely 20 31 23 17 30 23 16 15

Not very likely 17 16 18 16 19 16 15 20

Not likely at all 49 25 42 55 32 43 57 54

DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 2

64. If the UCONN football program is upgraded to Division 1a, how likely is
it that you would watch a UCONN football game on TV? Very likely,
somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?